Jharsuguda: Former Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan faced protests from Biju Janata Dal and Congress workers during his visit to Jharsuguda Sunday. Protesters raised slogans against Pradhan and staged demonstrations at several locations.
Later, police picked up workers from both parties and detained them in police stations.
The protests were linked to the controversy surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), over which Pradhan had faced criticism.
Many of the candidates committed suicide which resulted in stiff protests in various parts of the country.
As a result, Pradhan finally resigned from the post of Education Minister.
However, the BJP had planned to felicitate Pradhan by assembling at Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda to welcome him.
On the other hand, opposition BJD and Congress workers and some youth organisations staged demonstrations as Pradhan travelled to the Airport.
The police maintained tight security from Badamal on the Sambalpur-Jharsuguda border to the airport ahead of his visit.
Northern Range Inspector General of Police Himanshu Lal personally supervised the security arrangements.
At locations under the Airport police station jurisdiction, including near the OMP and Airport squares, protesters broke through police barricades and raised “Dharmendra Pradhan go back” slogans.
Police detained hundreds of Biju Janata Dal leaders and workers at the Jharsuguda Sadar police station as part of measures to maintain law and order.
Similarly, Town police detained Congress workers.
The detained leaders and workers raised slogans against the state government, police administration and the Bharatiya Janata Party on the police station premises.
Police also detained some members of youth outfits who were staging a protest.
Police were deployed at major intersections across the city, while senior officers kept a close watch on the situation.
Former Jharsuguda MLA Dipali Das strongly criticised the police detention of protesters.
Das said the alleged police crackdown was highly condemnable while political parties were exercising their democratic rights.